Another Lycoris question
J.E. Shields (Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:15:54 PDT)

Anita, Adam, Jim McK., Jim W., and all,

All this discussion suggests that someone should try producing tetraploid
longituba, sprengeri, or chinensis -- someone significantly younger than
Adam and also younger than I am!

Germinate the seeds in colchicine solution. Aart van Voorst has done this
for Clivia and for Haemanthus. See the archives of the clivia-enthusiast
list in Yahoo
Groups, http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/… . The
method has been published in one of the "Clivia" yearbooks from the Clivia
Society (South Africa) http://www.cliviasociety.org/ .

I also think someone should make a systematic study of germination of
Lycoris seeds. I'll try to generate enough Lycoris seeds this year to send
some to Dell for the PBS BX/SX. Note that only the female (seed or berry
or ovule) parent will be known for sure. All three of the species I have
are in bloom now and grow in beds near each other: chinensis, longituba,
and sprengeri. Consequently, interspecific hybrids are very likely.

Regards,
Jim Shields
in central Indiana, USA

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Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd.
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